Fence-machine



(No Model.)

J. E. BIELER.. PENGB MACHINE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Pat ente d Apr." 7, 1595.

' Wiigzssas lg egiflr JOhnE.Bi/eler.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. BIELER, OF lVHEATON, KANSAS.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,542, dated April 7, 1896.

Application filed August 19, 1895. Serial No. 559,808. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN E. BIELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Vheaton, in the county of Pottawatomie and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Fence-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of machines devised for twisting Wires about pickets in the construction of wire picket fencing, and aims to provide a machine of compact form, easy of manipulation, and by means of which the desired results are attained in a satisfactory manner.

The improvement will be more fully set forth hereinafter and claimed and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the complete machine. Fig. 3 is a section on the line X X of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

The base or platform 1 is mounted upon wheels 2, so as to facilitate the movement of the machine along the prescribed line of fencin g when in operation. A suitable framework is superposed upon the base and, as shown, comprises end standards 3 of substantially similar formation and side bars 4 connecting the end standards 3 in such a manner as to brace the latter against linear tension attendant upon the wiring and constructing of the picket fencing. A series of shafts 5 are supported at their ends in the standards 3, the number of these shafts depending upon the number of longitudinal strands entering into the formation of the fencing.

Picket fencing as generally constructed embodies an upper and a lower strand or cable, and as the machine is intended to meet the demand of the trade it is shown as provided with only two shafts 5, which are located to correspond with the position of the upper and lower strands or cables of the completed fence.

The wire-twisting heads 6 are mounted upon the ends of the shafts 5 and are journaled in suitable bearings provided in the end standards and consist of circular plates having openings 7 at diametrically-opposite points for the passage therethrough of the wires 8 to be twisted about the pickets 9. These wiretwisting heads 6 are secured upon the ends of the shafts 5 in any convenient manner and have outwardly-extending flanges 10, which overlap the edges of the openings or bearings in the standards 3 within which the said wiretwisting heads are journaled, and these flanges 10 engage with the outer faces of the end standards 3 and prevent longitudinal movement of the shafts 5 in the framework of the machine and maintain them in Working position. One of the wire-twistingheads is loosely mounted upon its shaft in order to enable the wires to twist about the said shaft between the end standards, therebymaking provision to check the too-rapid advance of the machine inthe event of the fencing being constructed on a down slope or grade. This Wire-twistin g head is located at the front end of the ma- 7o chine, or that end remote from the completed fencing, and is preferably the topmost one, so as to be within convenient reach and under observation. This loosely mounted wiretwisting head is provided with an eccentricallydisposed pin 11, which is engaged by means of a catch 12 when it is required to secure the said twisting'head from turning with the shaft mounted therein. Thus it will be seen that when the last-mentioned wire-twist- 8o ing head is held stationary and its shaft is caused to rotate the Wires 8 will be twisted about the shaft 5 thereof and create a tension which will retard the forward movement of the machine. 8 5

Sprocket-wheels 13 are mounted upon the shafts 5, near the front ends thereof, and are secured upon the said shafts so as to revolve therewith, and these sprocket-wheels have openings 14 corresponding with the openings 0 7 in the wire-twisting heads for the passage therethrough of the wires 8. An operatinglever 15 is fulcrumed about midway of its ends to a bracket 16, extending laterally from the framework, and a sprocket-chain 17 is 5 connected at its ends with the operating-lever at points equidistant from its fulcrum and passes over the sprocket-wheels 13, so that when actuating the lever 15 the sprocketchain 17 will be operated and cause a rotation of the shafts 5 and the wire-twisting heads mounted thereon, and thereby twist the wires 8 about the pickets 9 in the ordinary manner, as will be readily appreciated.

The picket about which it is required to twist the wires is held in place prior to and during the operation of twisting the wires by means of a bar 18, which is adapted to operate through suitable openings in the standards 3, and by means of which the said bar is guided in its movements. A lever 19 is fulcrumed between its ends to the framework, and its lower bent end 20 enters the space between vertically-extending lugs 21 of the bar 18. Hence on operating the lever 19 the bar 18 will be moved so as to engage with the picket placed in position between the angles formed by the wires 8, so as to hold the said picket until it is bound in by twisting the wires thereabout. Bybperating the lever 19 the bar 18 will be caused to bear against the picket last secured in position and advance the machine a proper distance for the insertion and proper positioning of the next picket.

When placing the machine in working position, the wires 8 are passed through the openings 7 of the wire-twisting heads and the openings 14 of the sprocket-wheels, and are twisted about the pickets in the usual manner by operating the lever 15 in the manner set forth. hen it is required to check the too-rapid forward movement of the machine, the catch 12 is brought into engagement with the pin 11, so as to hold the wire-twisting head supporting the same from turning, which will result in wrapping the wires about the shaft of the said Wire-twistin g head and create a friction or tension thereon sufficient to retard the forward movement of the machine.

The machine will be provided in diiferent sizes and may have as many shafts 5 as required, according to the number of line-wires in the fencing. Therefore it is to be understood that in the embodiment of the same various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a picket and wire fence machine, the combination of a framework, wire-twisting heads journaled in the framework at opposite points, a shaft loosely mounted at one end in one of the wire-twisting heads and secured at its opposite end to the other wire-twisting head so as to revolve therewith, and actuating mechanism for rotating the said shaft, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.

2. In a picket and wire fence machine, the combination of the framework, oppositelydisposed wire-twi sting heads journaled in the framework, a shaft supported at its ends in the wire-twisting heads and loosely mounted in one and secured to revolve with the other wire-twisting head, means for actuating the shaft, and a catch to engage with the wiretwisting head in which the shaft is loosely mounted so as to hold it stationary, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.

In a machine for wiring picket fencing, the combination with the framework, and the wire-twisting mechanism, of a bar supported at its ends in the framework, and a lever for engaging with the said bar to move it against the picket to be twisted or bound in by the wires for holding the said picket in place and adapted to be used for spacing or moving the machine to facilitate the proper positioning of the next picket, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.

4. The herein shown and described picket and wire fence machine, comprising a base supported upon wheels, a framework superposed upon the base, upper and lower wiretwisting heads journaled in the end standards of the framework, shafts mounted in the said wire-twisting heads so as to revolve therewith, one of the wire-twisting heads being loosely mounted upon a shaft, a catch to engage with and hold the loosely-mounted wire-twisting head against rotation for the purpose described, sprocket-wheels mounted upon the said shafts, an operating-lever, a sprocketchain secured at its ends to the operatinglever and passing over the said sprocketwheels, a bar supported in the framework, and a lever for moving the said bar, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. BIELER. XVitnesses:

MAURICE SHEAHON, FRANK DAY. 

